Thread by @AyeshaA86801016

The Quran is written in ancient Arabic and through rote reading). It was the late 80’s, early 90’s and there was little knowledge (today there is much more information available due to the internet). Until recently I learned despite being told otherwise, that men do not actually

actually need to ask permission from their wives to remarry in Islam (Fataawa Islamiyyah 3/204). The Islam I was brought up with always stated that ‘you have to ask for permission from your first wife and you must treat them equally.’ An example of two completely different

versions of the same religion. The men in my family do not commit polygamy; to be honest it is rare but it does happen, especially in Islamic states. Not all men will jump at the chance to do this.

However, we need to protect women from those who will, especially where it is more culturally acceptable. Maybe that is why those who joined ISIS did so; they found a religion which offered them every loop hole to commit all the atrocities they wished.

The Qur’an can be interpreted in many different ways. It is not written chronologically, but in order of the size of the chapter. This will obviously cause problems when reading, because there will be progressive sections at the beginning and the Pre-Isa (Jesus) sections

(which is basically the same as the Old Testament) may appear at the end. Many Muslims, do not focus on the scriptures and just read the Quran without understanding it. They would be taught through the communities.

Some Muslim historical apologists would argue that Islam was formed during ‘a time of battle’ when coming across controversial aspects; that four wives were necessary during war, where many men were killed, wives left widowed and children orphaned.

Some bring up the dark side of Judaism and Christianity, where there are lots of controversial things too. An example is where women had to marry their rapists, stories of beastiality and organised slavery etc (savethemales.ca/2014/03/Does-T…).

Most Jews and Christians do not behave like this today; there are Christian communities in Africa and American states where they are allowed to marry underage girls, but not on this scale. Their leader would be in uproar and so would the community.

So why aren’t the angry and offended Muslims able to condemn those actions in the modern day? The answer is because at the same time, Muslims are encouraged to emulate the Prophet and follow his footsteps; it is ‘Sunnah’. Men are given the free pass and unfortunately

many follow his footsteps. For me, there is enough to question all three Abrahamic religions.

Many British Muslims don't question ‘Shariah countries’ because they take for granted the freedom of choice they have here. Most won’t address the issue, until it affects them directly

They may not consider the question ‘which type of Islam would I prefer? One under a secular state or a Shariah? It reminds me of a UK British Muslim couple who went to Dubai, they were caught holding hands and were arrested. They were horrified.

Shariah states are more lenient with Non-Muslim’s but because this couple were Muslims, they received a more severe punishment. Yet, they were British and were used to British way of life and had no real understanding of how it was to live under a religion state.

I have heard many times, statements such as ‘That’s not the Islam I know’ ‘They’re Shia’s, not Sunni like us’ ‘It has been interpreted wrong’ ‘That’s incorrect’ ‘My scholar told me…’ ‘That’s culture, not religion’ ‘That’s what Arab’s do, not us’ ‘Don’t just ‘pick’ on Islam’

‘All men in those days married younger women’ ‘Islam was forward thinking for the time and women had more rights’ I would debate and not feel any of these arguments had any strength. Also, what many Muslim’s do not realise is that many of the Hadith’s were written hundreds of

years after the Prophet’s death.
Regardless of the era the Quran was written in, it is interesting there are many indications that the Prophet was criticised by those closest to him. Aisha (wife of the Prophet) said in the Hadith,

"It seems to me that your Lord hastens to satisfy your desire." Sahih Muslim vol.2 book 8 no.3453-3454 p.748-749. The U-Turn from God when marrying Zaynab. The Prophet had stated previously that Allah said you could not marry your adopted son’s wife;

; it was almost incestual, however in this case he changed the rules, when it came to his adopted son Zayd’s wife (Zaynab Bint Jash). The prophet had made comments about her beauty, his adopted son said he would divorce her, if he wished to marry her

(The Prophet became extremely powerful later on in life) but the Prophet stated no; that it was wrong. Only to change his mind and state that Allah has advised him to do so. The legal status of adoption was no longer recognised in Islam after this too.

Another example would be the issue around a woman named Layla who had just married the Prophet, who explained to him that people in her village were calling him a womaniser and questioned why she had married him (Hearing this the Prophet agreed to divorce her).

Layla's people said, ‘’What a bad thing you have done! You are a self-respecting woman, but the Prophet is a womanizer. Seek an annulment from him.' She went back to the Prophet and asked him to revoke the marriage and he complied with [her request]." al-Tabari vol.9 p.139.

It is healthy to critique religion, however, with Islam, Muslims are easily insulted but to me it speaks volumes that Layla’s community were speaking out against the Prophets actions at that time. We should therefore be able to express uproar when there is a paedophilia ring,

amongst those with religious status, in Iraq at the moment.
Until women are able to live in a Muslim country and live independently, oppression will still be rife – But the religion does not allow this!

And the difference within the Muslim countries and other countries, is that many Muslim countries are still very much governed by religion (Shariah). Their civilians do not have a choice on how to live their lives. This does not belong in the 21st Century.

Living in the UK, I have the freedom to express this view (to some extent because I still fear fundamentalist Muslim’s reaction here). The UK has its’ problems too; I often complain austerity etc; however my primary needs are met, I have freedom, I am safe, I am happy.